Race for House Whip Turns Into a Cliffhanger

With House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) “poised to succeed departing Majority Leader Eric Cantor in this week’s House Republican leadership elections, the race to succeed Mr. McCarthy is turning into a nail-biter,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The Thursday election will pit Mr. McCarthy’s top deputy, Rep. Peter Roskam of Illinois, against Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the head of the Republican Study Committee, a bloc of the House’s most conservative lawmakers. Fellow RSC member Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana also is vying for the position.”

Rick Klein: “The only voters are the 233 House Republicans, and the election combines some of the best and worst aspects of papal conclaves and student council races. The ballots are secret except to a select few, so expect deals and counter-deals, all predicated on rivalries based on who sits with whom at lunch — or at party fundraisers.”